Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Ron Marvel

Star Correspondent

Carter County EMS held a formal ceremony Thursday to acknowledge the installation of the 17th Safe Haven Baby Box in East Tennessee. Deputy Director Nancy Garrison opened the event by recognizing the diligent work of individuals and organizations who made the project a reality.

“We owe our thanks to many people and organizations for their part in making this Baby Box a reality,” Garrison said. Those acknowledged included volunteer Laverne Craig, whose hard work and persistence were instrumental, as well as the Carter County EMS board members, the Craig Foundation, Ken Page and Crestview Monitoring, Anthony Stevens and Sylvan Inc., the East Tennessee Foundation, and Carter County and Elizabethton city officials.

Craig’s efforts with legislators in Knoxville to amend Safe Haven laws in East Tennessee led to the opening of the first Safe Haven Baby Box in Knoxville in 2023. Ninety days later, the box received its first infant – a healthy baby boy, still with his placenta and umbilical cord attached.

Safe Haven Baby Box founder and CEO Monica Kelsey was on hand to thank those who made the day possible. “We have seen time and time again that preparation can save and change lives. We never know when or where we will be needed, so it’s crucial to have options for mothers in crisis,” Kelsey said.

Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby also recognized those who contributed time and financial resources to the project, and Pastor Justin Deaton gave the official blessing for the Baby Box.

According to the Safe Haven website, Safe Haven Baby Boxes provide a compassionate and secure option for mothers in crisis who cannot care for their newborns. The boxes, installed on the exterior walls of fire stations and hospitals, feature innovative safety measures, including an automatic lock on the exterior door and a secure interior door for medical personnel to retrieve the infant quickly and safely.

“When they come here, it’s on the side of our building facing the pond,” Garrison explained. “They can go all the way around the building once, pulling around the front and going to the left side of the building. It’s well-lit. There’s a walkway, but there are no cameras. No one is watching that area of the building. So they would open the box, place the baby inside, and then close the door back.”

Kelsey emphasized the importance of providing options. “We’re not going to tell you what to do,” she said. “We’re not going to tell you what’s best for you. What we’re going to do is tell you what’s available in your community, allow you to choose, and then we’re going to walk alongside you on your journey.”

While the Baby Box may never be used, Carter County EMS has trained for the possibility. Safe Haven Baby Box also offers a 24/7 hotline for mothers in crisis, accessible via call or text at 1-866-99BABY1.